Mrs. Kuniye “Florence” Iwamoto passed away on Sept. 2, 2024, at her home in Overland Park, Kan. She was 96.
Mrs. Iwamoto was a skilled quilter, crocheter, and seamstress. Not only did she sew all her own clothes, but she also sewed tiny clothes for her daughters’ Barbie dolls. She delighted in giving away her quilts, especially baby quilts and balls, to family and friends. She enjoyed gardening and cooking for her family. Later in life, she became a devoted fan of the University of Kansas basketball team, following the team closely and watching as many games as she could on TV.
Born on Feb. 28, 1928, Mrs. Iwamoto grew up in Port Allen on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. She spent the summers fishing, swimming, and crabbing, and playing in the ocean. Later, as she and her friends got older, they worked in the sugarcane and pineapple fields, and later, in the pineapple cannery.
She met her future husband, Reynold, on a blind date in Honolulu. They were married on Dec. 23, 1951, and moved to Boston, where Mr. Iwamoto attended graduate school. They settled in Lawrence, Kan., where Mr. Iwamoto was a professor of analytical chemistry at KU. Mrs. Iwamoto often baked brownies and other desserts for his graduate students. One of his students mentioned her kindness and baked goods in his dissertation. Mr. Iwamoto passed away in 2015.
Survivors include son Bryan; daughters Karen and Ellen; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A private service is planned.
